Effects of micronutrients on crop quality

Abstract

Micronutrients or trace elements are fundamentally just as important as macronutrients for plants to thrive, yield, and produce higher-quality products. B, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Mo, Cl and Ni are the essential micronutrients required by all types of crops in varying amounts. The micronutrient requirements of the plants are satisfied by the soil, chemical fertilizers and other sources. These mineral micronutrients play vital roles in various crops such as photosynthesis, respiration, chlorophyll synthesis, increased sugar content and TSS in fruits, increased pollen viability, symbiotic N-fixation, production of vitamins etc. Lack of micronutrient fertilizers causes plants to absorb trace elements insufficiently, which results in significant losses in yield and quality of various crops. Crop quality is significantly impacted by the synergistic and antagonistic interactions between various nutrients. Therefore, it's crucial to ensure optimal absorption of soil micronutrients. Consequently, it is acknowledged that a balanced nutrition is of utmost significance. Morphological, organoleptic, and nutritional qualities are essential for the value addition of harvested goods. The various crop quality parameters that are improved by applying micronutrients are aroma in rice, protein content in wheat and pulses, oil content in oilseed, curd\head size in cole crops, TSS and ascorbic acid content in fruits, etc. Enhancing crop quality still remains a major challenge in this era of increasing food demand, especially in the developing world. The objective of this article is to gain deeper insights into new advancements in the research of micronutrients contributing to the quality of various crops to ensure consumer preferences and nutritional attributes.